(Thumbnail image: Zeta Tau Alpha)

It is a sight not commonly seen. Zeta Tau Alpha, a predominately white sorority, competing in the Sprite National Step-Off competition. Zeta's team won- to controversy over whether they should even have been allowed to compete at all.
 
After a week of negotiation competition officials said there had been a "scoring discrepancy", and decided to elevate historically black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha to co-winner status. In The Kansas City Star, Jason Whitlock cries foul.

"Imagine the reaction had former Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson and the PGA Tour announced five days after Tiger’s historic victory that an unexplained 'scoring discrepancy' meant Tiger had to share his green jacket with Phil Mickelson."

Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Annette John-Hall says it isn't that an all-white sorority won that offends--it's something bigger.

"The co-opting of cultural traditions is nothing new. Every race and ethnicity shamelessly steals from the other. ... But, sadly, the history of blacks is watching whites profit and flourish from their culture, creativity, and inventions. And that exploitation is what members of black Greek organizations find offensive."

But a report from the Fox affiliate in Memphis suggests it's that co-opting of traditions that should be celebrated.

"But just as crossover stars like rapper Eminem rode the crest of that once-maligned genre from underground to mainstream, Zeta Tau Alpha's experience is another example of positive racial revolution, demonstrating an open appreciation and respect for another's culture. ... After all, isn't imitation supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery?"
 

Writer: Amanda Heisey

Producer: Newsy Staff